Texas Success Initiative (TSI)
Getting Started
TSI Compliancy in Three Phases
Follow these guidelines to meet the TSI requirements and be college ready.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to frequently asked TSI questions regarding requirements and procedures.
TSI Orientation Guide & Brochure
Plan for New Student Orientation and review information for students offered by the state.
Phase 1: TSI Exemptions and Waivers
Your application documents (e.g., national test scores or transcripts) are automatically evaluated to determine whether you demonstrate college readiness through any exemptions. If you are exempt in one or more TSI areas, the exemptions are automatically recorded in your student account; if you are complete in all three areas, your TSI requirement will be completed.
If you remain incomplete in any of the three areas, a TSI enrollment hold is placed on your account, and a To-do List for TSI Compliancy is added for each incomplete subject area. You’ll be sent an email to explain the TSI requirements and what exemptions and waivers are allowed.
If you have documentation you believe qualifies you for a TSI exemption or waiver, please submit it by email to tsi@uh.edu. You may also request additional review of documentation you have already submitted (e.g, transcripts not yet processed or TSI status listed on transcripts). The TSI staff will review your documentation, record TSI areas as complete, and, if all three areas are complete, release the hold. Some unofficial documentation will allow for a one-semester waiver for the purpose of temporarily releasing the TSI hold, however official documentation must be submitted to UH Admissions to complete the TSi requirement.
TSI exemptions:
- ACT exemption: For the ACT administered PRIOR to February 15, 2023: a composite score of 23 with a minimum of 19 on the English test shall be exempt for both the reading and writing sections of the TSI Assessment and/or 19 on the mathematics test shall be exempt for the mathematics section of the TSI Assessment. Scores may not be more than 5 years old at the time of exemption.;
- For the ACT administered on or AFTER February 15, 2023: a combined score of 40 on the English and Reading (E+R) tests shall be exempt for both reading and writing or ELAR sections of the TSI Assessment. A score of 22 on the mathematics test shall be exempt from the mathematics section of the TSI Assessment. There is no composite score.
SAT exemption: 480 on Evidenced-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) and 530 on Math.
Scores may not be more than 5 years old at the time of exemption.
TAKS exemption: a minimum scale score of 2200 on the math section and/or a minimum scale score of 2200 on the English Language Arts section with a writing subsection score of at least 3 on the Eleventh-grade exit-level Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS).
Scores may not be more than 5 years old at the time of exemption.
STAAR exemption: STAAR end-of-course (EOC) exam scores, including a minimum score on English III Reading of 2000, English III Writing of 2000, and Algebra II of 4000, shall be exempt from the TSI Assessments in those respective areas of reading, writing, and math.
(Note: Although HB5 disallowed administration of the English III exams for a time period, they were administered in some cases prior to the effective date for HB5. In addition, starting with AY 2015-2016, school districts may opt into administering these exams again. Therefore, these STARR EOC exemptions remain in rule and in effect (TAC, Rule 4.54(b).)
Scores may not be more than 5 years old at the time of exemption.
Degree exemption: students who have graduated with an associate (Associate of Arts or Associate of Science) as determined by the University of Houston or a baccalaureate degree from an institution of higher education.
Coursework exemption: students with a passing grade in college-level coursework in a related field, either at UH, external transfer credit posted to the UH account, or by using AP exam scores, IB exam scores1, or dual credit grades, as determined by the University of Houston. See the UH TSI Course Exemption list for courses that will satisfy an exemption.
1 Students must earn the IB diploma to be eligible for TSI exemption based on IB exam completion.
Prior military service exemption: students who on or after August 1, 1990, were honorably discharged, retired, or released from active duty as a member of the U.S. armed forces, the Texas National Guard, or service as a member of a reserve component of the U.S. armed forces.
Please submit a complete copy of the DD-214 form as documentation.
GED: Effective 5/12/2021 a minimum score of 165 on the Mathematical Reasoning subject test shall be exempt for mathematics. A minimum score of 165 on the Reasoning Through Language Arts (RLA) subject test shall be exempt for English Language Arts Reading (ELAR).
The high school equivalency test exemptions are valid up to five (5) years from the date of testing.
HiSET: Effective 5/12/2021 a minimum score of 15 on the Mathematics subtest shall be exempt for mathematics. A minimum score of 15 on the Reading subtest and a minimum score of 15 on the Writing subtest, including a minimum score of 4 on the essay, shall be exempt for English Language Arts Reading (ELAR).
- NOTE: HiSET has informed the Texas Education Agency that it will no longer administer its test after 8/31/21. Therefore, HiSET scores with test administration dates after 8/31/21 will no longer be useable for the TSI exemption. However, HiSET college readiness scores with test dates on or prior to 8/31/21 will still be useable up to five (5) years from the date of testing.
The high school equivalency test exemptions are valid up to five (5) years from the date of testing.
TSI waivers:
Military Service waiver: Students serving on active duty as a member of the U.S. armed forces, the Texas National Guard, or as a member of a reserve component of the U.S. armed forces and have been serving for at least 3 years preceding enrollment are eligible for a one-semester waiver of the TSI requirements.
Note that this is not a complete exemption but rather a temporary waiver; students in this category must demonstrate eligibility each semester in order to have the hold released.
Please submit a current copy of a Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) as documentation.
Students wishing to enroll in a course that requires TSI completion should speak with their advisor for options.
Non-degree seeking waiver: Students who wish to take courses for personal enrichment but are not pursuing an undergraduate degree.
This waiver is not an exemption from the TSI requirement for courses that note TSI as a prerequisite. Students may enroll in any coursework for which they have met prerequisite requirements.
Students wishing to enroll in a course that requires TSI completion should speak with their advisor for options.
Student completing UH developmental coursework. The TSI requirement is waived for one semester while students take developmental courses as advised. A second waiver allows enrollment in next semester courses while the first semester developmental course is in progress.
Phase 2: TSI Assessment
TSI Assessment Resources for Students
Math Sample Questions
ELAR Sample Questions
Essay Sample Prompts
Interpret Your Scores
Phase 3: Your TSI Success Plan
Review the path to your success.
During New Student Orientation, your academic advisor will confirm you are not yet TSI complete. Then together, you will discuss your past performance in the affected subject area(s) and your TSI Assessment scores in order to develop a TSI Success Plan¹, usually including developmental coursework, that is best for your degree plan.
Your college will waive the TSI requirement for one semester (this is your first TSI waiver) and lift the TSI hold temporarily so that you can enroll in your first semester classes.
Follow your Success Plan by taking the required developmental coursework (or other recommended actions) in your first semester.
Although you are enrolled in developmental coursework as advised, you will not yet be TSI complete. You will still see the TSI Compliancy noted on your To-Do list in your myUH Student Center.
Because you are not yet complete, your TSI hold will be reapplied during this semester. Before your Enrollment Date for your second semester courses, check foro that hold and contact your academic advisor to request your TSI requirement be waived again (this is your second TSI waiver). Your hold will be lifted so that you can enroll in second semester courses. The expectation is that you will pass your developmental course(s) and be TSI complete after the end of the first semester.
At the end of the semester when you complete your Success Plan (i.e., pass the developmental coursework), your TSI requirement for that subject will be automatically completed.
If you are not TSI complete after your second TSI waiver
⇒ If you are not TSI complete after your two allowed waivers (by the end of the first semester), contact your academic advisor to make a plan for meeting the TSI requirement beyond your second waiver.
You may retake the TSI Assessment, if desired
⇒ At any time, you may choose to retake the TSI assessment. (Once you have taken the TSI assessment at least one time, you are not required to retake it.) If you pass, you can drop any developmental coursework in that content area.
Questions?
Before New Student Orientation email tsi@uh.edu.
After Orientation contact your undergraduate academic advisor.